Black soybean leaves, a traditional Chinese medicinal herb. It is the leaf of the soybean plant, which is harvested in spring and can be used fresh or dried. It is widely cultivated throughout the country. How can black soybean leaves be used to treat snake bites?
[Plant Morphology] Black soybean leaves are annual upright herbaceous plants, reaching a height of 60-180cm. The stems are thick and densely covered with brown long stiff hairs. The leaf stalks are long and densely covered with yellow long stiff hairs; the stipules are small and lanceolate in shape.
The leaves are compound with three leaflets. The terminal leaflet is rhomboid-ovate, measuring 7-13cm long and 3-6cm wide, with a gradually pointed apex and a wide wedge-shaped or round base. Both sides of the leaf are covered with white long soft hairs. The lateral leaflets are smaller and obliquely ovate. The leaf axis and petioles of the leaflets are densely covered with yellow long stiff hairs.
The inflorescence is axillary and racemose. The bracts and bracteoles are lanceolate in shape and hairy. The calyx is tubular, with 5 lanceolate teeth, the lowermost tooth being the longest, and all covered with white long soft hairs.
The corolla is small, white or pale purple, slightly longer than the calyx. The standard petal has a slightly concave apex, the wing petals have 1 ear, and the keel petals are sickle-shaped. There are 10 stamens, fused in pairs. The ovary is linear and hairy.
The pod is oblong, slightly curved, pendulous, yellow-green in color, and densely covered with yellow long stiff hairs. There are 2-5 seeds, yellow-green or black, ovoid to nearly spherical, about 1cm long. It flowers from June to July and fruiting occurs from August to October.
[Medicinal Properties] Sweet; Neutral. Channels entered: Bladder meridian.
[Medical Effects] Diuretic; Cooling blood and detoxification.
[Medical Effect Classification] Diuretic drugs.
[Main Indications] Hot urine; Bloody urine; Snake bites.
[Usage and Dosage] Internal use: Decoction, 15-30g of fresh leaves. External use: Appropriate amount, crushed fresh leaves for application.
[Prescription] ① Treatment for snake bites: Crush and apply black soybean leaves, changing three times a day, effective. (From "Guang Li Fang")
② Treatment for bloody urine: Boil one handful of black soybean leaves in four liters of water, take two liters, and drink it at once. (From "Qian Jin Fang")
